http://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-wyden-release-report-maternal-health-one-year-after-trumps-big-ugly

July 6, 2026 - 22:24

House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden have published a new report examining the state of maternal health care in the United States. The report arrives exactly one year after President Trump signed his sweeping budget and tax package, which the lawmakers refer to as the "Big Ugly Bill," into law.

The report details how the legislation has impacted access to prenatal and postpartum care for American women. According to the Democratic leaders, the law has led to cuts in critical health programs and has worsened existing disparities in maternal health outcomes, particularly for women of color and those in rural communities. The United States continues to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, a crisis that the report argues has been exacerbated by the new policies.

Pallone and Wyden highlight specific provisions that have reduced funding for community health centers and weakened Medicaid protections. They argue these changes have made it harder for low-income mothers to receive consistent care during pregnancy and after childbirth. The report also points to a lack of investment in mental health services for new mothers and a shortage of maternity care providers in underserved areas.

The findings call for immediate legislative action to reverse the damage, including restoring funding for maternal health programs and expanding access to doula services and midwifery care. The lawmakers are urging their colleagues to prioritize maternal health as a bipartisan issue, warning that without intervention, the nation's maternal mortality rates will continue to climb.